Pa. mortician facing charges in macabre case

CONESTOGA (AP) — A Pennsylvania funeral home director is charged with multiple counts of theft by deception and abuse of a corpse after investigators say they found decomposing bodies during a search of the business.

Officials in Lancaster County announced the charges Friday against 41-year-old Benjamin Siar, owner of Gundel Funeral Home in Conestoga.

There is a warrant for his arrest and authorities are urging him to surrender.

District Attorney Craig Stedman said several families paid Siar thousands of dollars for cremation services that weren’t provided.

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Stedman says police conducted a search at the funeral home Thursday and found four decomposing bodies, including that of a 2-year-old girl police say was beaten to death earlier this year.

Stedman says more charges will be filed as the investigation continues.